John Fielding Day

Subject: John Fielding Day Wed May 24, 2023 9:07 pm

Hi All

I have come across John mentioned in BDM's as died at Isandlwana, in the Natal Witness. Having looked on any lists of casualties I have found on the forum I don't seem to find him, it doesn't give his regiment.
I have come across 1042 Pte Alfred Day 80th foot (Staffordshire) missing Intombi 12 March 1879, but not the man listed as killed at Isandlwana.
Is there a complete list anywhere on the site?

Cheers Eddie

Posts : 305 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Eddie,

He is listed in Julian's 'England's Sons' as a civilian attachment killed at Isandlwana.

Regards,

Tim

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Thu May 25, 2023 12:59 pm

Hi Tim

Thank you. Hence no regiment.

Regards Kevin

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Mon May 29, 2023 7:00 pm

Eddie
He was a waggon conductor in No. 3 Column.

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Tue May 30, 2023 2:52 am

Hi

Cheers Julian

Posts : 1074 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi Julien and All,
I have'nt got my England's Sons to hand so do not know what details you have on John Fielding Day,
i found the following this morning, John Fielding Day born 1846 Huntingdon, birth record, on a 1851 census record John F Day born 1837 Huntingdon scholer living Huntingdon, 1861 census gives b 1837 Huntingdon, Carpenter living Hornsey London, but then the Carpenter is alive in 1881 census so cannot be the correct man, however, Another John Day born 1837 St Ives Huntingdon attested 60th Rifles in Huntingdon 13 July 1854 age 17, Private No.33, he went to South Africa and transferred to the Cape Mounted Rifles 1 Dec 1856, he was discharged Jan 26 1859 in Grahamstown, after a Medical Board found him unfit. He was receiving pension up until at least 1865. This would at least put in the right place South Africa, birth and census are notoriously wrong at times missing out dates and names, so it possible that Fielding was missed on his Army record, bit of a long shot i know ????
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Thu Jun 01, 2023 11:28 am

The latter man would have been 41 at the time of the battle. The newspaper report refers to John Fielding Day being a son of Mr. John Day of Lions River. I'm wondering whether the Isandhlwana casualty might have been the son of the man you found. If so, your John Day would have had to marry soon after being discharged with a son being born 1860/61. That would make John Fielding Day 17 or 18 when he was killed. It just about fits. But there's a lot of supposition there and confirmations needed before we can say it has any basis in fact.

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Thu Jun 01, 2023 11:42 am

Hi again
No. We're barking up the wrong tree. According to a family genealogy site John Fielding Day was born on 22nd January 1846 in St. Ives, Huntingdonshire (your FIRST man, Rai). He had umpteen brothers and sisters. His parents were John Curry Day and Sarah Ann Fielding. They emigrated to Natal in about 1850 and lived at the time of the battle at 'Single Tree', Lions River. Descendants of the siblings are plentiful today though J F Day was unmarried.
So, our casualty, like Dyson, died on his birthday.

Posts : 1074 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi Julien,
Another spanner in the works, did he have a brother Thomas ??? Lions River is near Howick Natal, in St Lukes Anglican Church Cemetery Howick, is a gravestone to John Fielding Day, it has been broken but you can make out son of Thomas Day, on the site it gives born 1890 died 3 Nov 1891, but there are no dates on the stone, so was he the son of a brother being named after his own brother. It is on the eGGsa gravestone site of South Africa
Rai KLH.

Posts : 1074 Join date : 2009-10-16

Hi Again,
I think i found the genealogy site you mention, i notice his father John Curry Day also died at Howick, and he did have a brother Thomas.
Rai KLH

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Thu Jun 01, 2023 2:11 pm

He did indeed.

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Tue Jun 13, 2023 9:36 am

Hello Eddie.
I have some information to share on the family of John Day and his son John Fielding Day. It covers his emigration to Natal and the Death Notices of both of them. If you like I will e-mail it all.
Regards.
Brian.

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Tue Jun 13, 2023 11:13 am

Thank you Brian

I initially posted details within an article to determine if John was in the military as I could not find him listed in any unit, but I have my answer that he was in fact a civilian attached.

Thank you for your offer of an email of further facts about John, perhaps Julian Whybra above, might be interested in the details you have.

Cheers Eddie

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:24 pm

Brian,
Yes I am certainly interested. I'll pm you my private e-mail.
Thank you.
Julian

Subject: Re: John Fielding Day Tue Jun 13, 2023 6:30 pm

Hi All

I don't have full access to Natal Witness archives but I have been able to find the following in BDM:

Sarah Ann Day - death - 07 Nov 1881, mentioned above.
Also:
Thomas Day's marriage - 29 December 1881, mentioned above.
A William Day, Fort Nottingham, a subscriber to the Anglo Zulu war relief fund.
Also a Priscilla Jane Day - marriage - 9 October 1878.

Cheers Eddie

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